The Invincible (video game)#Development

{{Infobox video game

| title = The Invincible

| image = File:The Invincible cover art.jpg

| developer = Starward Industries

| publisher = 11 Bit Studios

| director = Marek Markuszewski

| composer = Brunon Lubas

| platforms = {{ubl|Microsoft Windows|PlayStation 5|Xbox Series X/S}}

| released = November 6, 2023

| genre = Adventure

| modes = Single-player

| engine = Unreal Engine 4

}}

The Invincible is an adventure video game developed by Starward Industries and published by 11 Bit Studios. It is an adaptation of Stanisław Lem's 1964 novel The Invincible. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 6, 2023.

Gameplay

The game is an adventure video game played from a first-person perspective. In the game, the player assumes control of astrobiologist Yasna (voiced by Daisy May),{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=John |title=Don't Miss Out On This Hard Sci-Fi Gem |url=https://kotaku.com/invincible-review-pc-ps5-xbox-stanislaw-lem-1851011612 |website=Kotaku |publisher=G/O Media |date=November 10, 2023 |access-date=August 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110190706/https://kotaku.com/invincible-review-pc-ps5-xbox-stanislaw-lem-1851011612 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |url-status=live}} who must explore the planet Regis III for her missing crewmates while facing an unknown threat. Yasna has access to several tools, such as a scanner and a handheld telescope that can be used to identify objects and aid her survival in the alien landscape.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-invincible-hands-on-preview-for-the-love-of-sci-fi|title=The Invincible Hands-On Preview: For The Love of Sci-Fi|first=Jon|last=Bolding|work=IGN|date=October 7, 2022|accessdate=June 12, 2023|archive-date=12 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612143834/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-invincible-hands-on-preview-for-the-love-of-sci-fi|url-status=live}} The developer described the game as a "branching narrative with an emphasis on player choice".{{cite web|url=https://www.vg247.com/the-invincible-will-ask-much-of-the-audience-but-the-rewards-could-be-well-worth-it|title=The Invincible will ask much of the audience, but the rewards could be well worth it|first=Jim|last=Trinca|work=VG 247|date=October 6, 2023|accessdate=June 12, 2023|archive-date=12 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612143835/https://www.vg247.com/the-invincible-will-ask-much-of-the-audience-but-the-rewards-could-be-well-worth-it|url-status=live}} Other characters include astrogator Novik (voiced by Jason Baughan),{{cite web |last1=Norris |first1=Jesse |title=Review {{!}} The Invincible |url=https://xboxera.com/2023/11/02/review-the-invincible/ |website=XboxEra |date=November 2, 2023 |access-date=August 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102150747/https://xboxera.com/2023/11/02/review-the-invincible/ |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |url-status=live}} who guides Yasna throughout her journey on Regis III.

Development

The Invincible has been developed by Polish independent developer Starward Industries, which was founded in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/former-cd-projekt-and-techland-devs-form-new-studio-starward-industries|title=Former CD Projekt and Techland devs form new studio Starward Industries|first=James|last=Batchelor|work=Gameindustry.biz|date=September 16, 2020|accessdate=June 12, 2023|archive-date=12 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612143829/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/former-cd-projekt-and-techland-devs-form-new-studio-starward-industries|url-status=live}} Members of the team had experience working for triple-A game development companies such as CD Projekt RED and Techland. The game is an adaptation of The Invincible, a science fiction novel written by Polish author Stanisław Lem. The team chose to adapt this novel because they felt that the book is "stunningly picturesque" and that it "reads as a ready-made movie script". Despite this, the game is not a one-to-one adaptation. While the story is largely the same and the game features several returning characters, the game's main cast of characters, including the playable protagonist, are original. For the game's art style, the team was heavily influenced by atompunk aesthetics, citing works from Chris Foss, Chesley Bonestell, and Syd Mead as their inspirations. In addition, the team also researched on Soviet designs of spaceships, vehicles and tools to fit the game's retro-futuristic style.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/the-invincible-ps5-xbox-series-x-announced/|title=The Invincible is a sci-fi thriller coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X from a new studio of former CD Projekt Red and Techland developers|first=Alex|last=Avard|work=GamesRadar|date=September 15, 2020|accessdate=June 12, 2023|archive-date=12 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612143829/https://www.gamesradar.com/the-invincible-ps5-xbox-series-x-announced/|url-status=live}}

The game was described to be a science-fiction thriller for its use of emotional suspense rather than a straightforward horror game. Firewatch served as one of the team's inspirations, especially how gameplay was handled during conversations with other non-playable characters.{{cite web|url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/120691/starward-industries-ceo-talks-the-invincible-influences-creative-liberty|title=Starward Industries CEO talks The Invincible, influences, & creative liberty|first=TJ|last=Denzer|work=Shacknews|date=October 2, 2020|accessdate=June 12, 2023|archive-date=12 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612143834/https://www.shacknews.com/article/120691/starward-industries-ceo-talks-the-invincible-influences-creative-liberty|url-status=live}} Road 96 was also an important influence, as it showed that there was "space for narrative experiences that are more mature and philosophical".{{cite web |last=Castle |first=Katharine |date=April 4, 2023 |title=The Invincible is way more exciting now I know it 'isn't a 1:1 adaptation' of Stanislaw Lem's sci-fi thriller |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-invincible-is-way-more-exciting-now-i-know-it-isnt-a-11-adaptation-of-stanislaw-lems-sci-fi-thriller |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404203004/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-invincible-is-way-more-exciting-now-i-know-it-isnt-a-11-adaptation-of-stanislaw-lems-sci-fi-thriller |archive-date=4 April 2023 |accessdate=June 12, 2023 |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun}} The game's director Marek Markuszewski added that the game's narrative was "unhurried" but "very intense", and that the tone of the game was "bitter, but not without a spark of hope for the future".{{cite web|url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/the-invincible-interview-marek-markuszewski-starward-industries-gameplay/|title=The Invincible Interview: A Completely Immersive, Consequential Retro-Futuristic Adventure|first=Michael|last=Cripe|work=The Escapist|date=February 15, 2022|accessdate=June 12, 2023|archive-date=12 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612143830/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/the-invincible-interview-marek-markuszewski-starward-industries-gameplay/|url-status=live}}

Starward Industries officially announced the game in September 2020 and was set to be released in 2021.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2020/09/15/the-invincible-is-an-exciting-new-sci-fi-thriller-for-next-gen-consoles|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023115835/https://www.gameinformer.com/2020/09/15/the-invincible-is-an-exciting-new-sci-fi-thriller-for-next-gen-consoles|url-status=live|archive-date=23 October 2020|title=The Invincible Is An Exciting New Sci-Fi Thriller For Next-Gen Consoles|first=Jason|last=Guisao|magazine=Game Informer|date=September 15, 2020|access-date=June 12, 2023}} In June 2022, Polish publisher 11 Bit Studios, the company behind This War of Mine and Frostpunk, announced that it had partnered with Starward Industries to serve as the game's publisher and debut the game's first gameplay video.{{Cite web |date=June 22, 2023 |title='The Invincible' as a new title in the Company's publishing portfolio |url=https://ir.11bitstudios.com/en/news/the-invincible-as-a-new-title-in-the-companys-publishing-portfolio |access-date=June 12, 2023 |publisher=11 Bit Studios |archive-date=12 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612143831/https://ir.11bitstudios.com/en/news/the-invincible-as-a-new-title-in-the-companys-publishing-portfolio |url-status=live }} The game was released for Windows PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S on November 6, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/06/the-invincible-delayed-to-2023-first-gameplay-showcase|title=The Invincible delayed to 2023, first gameplay showcase|first=Sal|last=Romano|work=Gematsu|date=June 12, 2023|accessdate=June 12, 2023|archive-date=3 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403214345/https://www.gematsu.com/2022/06/the-invincible-delayed-to-2023-first-gameplay-showcase|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/the-invincible-release-date-trailer-reveals-november-launch/|title=The Invincible Release Date Trailer Reveals November Launch|first=Michael|last=Cripe|work=The Escapist|date=August 21, 2023|accessdate=August 23, 2023}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| OC = 62%{{Cite web |title=The Invincible Reviews |url=https://opencritic.com/game/15764/the-invincible |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=OpenCritic |date=2 November 2023 |language=en}}

| MC = (PC) 72/100{{Cite web |title=The Invincible PC Critic Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-invincible/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=Metacritic}}
(PS5) 71/100{{Cite web |title=The Invincible PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-invincible/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5 |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=Metacritic}}
(XSXS) 72/100{{Cite web |title=The Invincible Xbox Series X Critic Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-invincible/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=Metacritic}}

}}

According to review aggregator website Metacritic, The Invincible received "mixed or average" reviews.